Author: Marianne Goodland
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U.S. House probes reports of fraud, waste in Colorado’s Medicaid program
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A congressional committee is probing reports of waste, fraud and abuse in Colorado’s Medicaid program, citing recent stories outlining over-billing in transportation spending and alleged improper payments in autism services. The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce has sent a letter to Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and…
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Colorado lawmakers’ speeches on immigration, Iran draw worries about decorum, grandstanding
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Several speeches from Colorado legislators this week have raised new worries about decorum and grandstanding in the state House after two members talked about immigration and Iran using what’s called a “point of personal privilege.” Under the rules of the chamber, moments of personal privilege are allowed for a member to speak for up to…
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Colorado legislators eye changes to credit card ‘swipe fees’
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Colorado legislators are proposing to eliminate “swipe fees” on sales taxes, a move that proponents say would save businesses tens of thousands of dollars a year but which will likely revive counter-arguments that those fees help create a stable and environment for financial transactions. Also known as interchange fees, swipe fees refer to the 2%…
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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis ignites fierce debate after raising clemency questions in Tina Peters case
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Gov. Jared Polis ignited a political firestorm Tuesday night after weighing in on the prison sentences of two former Colorado officials — a Democrat and a Republican — convicted of attempting to influence a public servant. The comments quickly fueled speculation about possible clemency for former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and drew sharp pushback…
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Gov. Jared Polis, Upper Basin states criticize federal draft plan for managing the Colorado River
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With no agreement among the seven Colorado River states, which missed multiple federal deadlines, the Upper Colorado River Commission on Monday sharply criticized the U.S. Department of the Interior’s draft plan for managing the river after the current guidelines expire this year. The critics accused federal officials of exceeding their authority and of relying on…
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Bills on ballot access, dual office ban move swiftly through Colorado legislature
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With an eye on the 2026 election cycle and mounting tensions with the Trump administration, Colorado lawmakers are fast-tracking a pair of election bills they say will protect the state’s mail ballot system and tighten rules for elected officials. The measures, one that expands ballot access timelines and another that bars lawmakers from holding multiple…
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Colorado Senate swears in Adrienne Benavidez after district vacancy win
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Sen. Adrienne Benavidez, a Democrat from Adams County, was sworn in Monday to the Colorado Senate, just four days after winning a vacancy election in District 21. She was sworn in by Colorado Court of Appeals Justice Lino S. Lipinsky de Orlov. Usually, that role is handled by a member of the Colorado Supreme Court,…
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Rural legislators, Colorado farmers defeat pollinator bill backed by Gov. Polis
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A proposal to limit the use of neonicotinoid-coated crop seeds collapsed in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week, as rural lawmakers, including two Democrats, joined Republicans to reject what they called an expensive, impractical mandate on farmers. Senate Bill 65 would have required farmers to obtain permission from third-party evaluators before using…
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Competing overtime bills for agriculture workers split Colorado Democrats
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Competing bills setting the overtime threshold for farmworkers have split legislators at the Colorado state Capitol, with one group saying a law passed in 2021 has harmed, rather than helped, farming operations and workers alike, while the other side insists that farmworkers should be treated like any other employee. The first group, which is bipartisan,…
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Male wolf dies after capture attempt in Colorado
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One of the original wolves brought to Colorado from Oregon has died after an attempt to capture it, the’s state wildlife agency said. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife identified the wolf as No. 2305 — meaning it was one of the original 10 animals that came from Oregon. The wolf, the male of the breeding…